First medals of the 2023 ECA Canoe Marathon European Championships awarded

 

The first eight sets of medals at the 2023 ECA Canoe Marathon European Championships in Slavonski Brod, Croatia, have been awarded. Hungary and Spain had a good start to the championships, winning two gold medals each. Great Britain, Ukraine, Poland and Norway also reached the top podium position on the opening day of the championships.

The most exciting events of the opening day of the 2023 ECA Canoe Marathon European Championships were afternoon's short races. Hungarian kayaker Vanda Kiszli managed to defend her European Champion title in short race from the season 2022 when Silkeborg hosted the Championships of the Old Continent.

This time the experienced 29-year-old Hungarian marathon paddler finished the short course in 14:54.37, which was more than 13 seconds faster than any other athlete in this event. Much more interesting fight was for the silver medal, where Kristina Bedec (SRB) and Eva Barrios (ESP) fought until the last centimetres of the course. It was Hungarian-born Serbian athlete Kristina Bedec who celebrated the vice-European champion title in short race 0.33 seconds ahead of Spanish representative Eva Barrios.

Equally intense was the senior men's kayak short race, where Jose Ramalho (POR) lead for part of the race, but had to congratulate Norwegian Eivind Vold at the end for outstanding last part of the course, where Vold found more strength and crossed the finish line 2.30 seconds ahead of Portuguese kayaker. Bronze medal went to Danish Mads Pedersen, who was actually the defending champion, but could not find the right answer to Vold and Ramalho in their fight for the gold medal. Pedersen was 4.04 seconds behind Vold at the end.

Ukrainian canoeist Liudmyla Babak continues her spotless performances at the European Championships. The defending champion of women's canoe short race was once more unbeatable and was almost twenty seconds faster than any other athlete in this event. Her teammate Olena Tsyhankova won silver medal, while Maria Martin from Spain finished third.

Polish canoeist Mateusz Borgiel was, too, fighting to defend the 2022 European Champion title in men's short race. The 25-year-old was successful in his quest, while Mateusz Zuchora, also from Poland, crossed the finish line in second position for the double Polish celebration. Diego Romero (ESP), the 2022 World Champion in men's canoe short race, had to settle with a bronze medal.

In men's junior kayak short race David Pazos (ESP) took the win ahead of Harry Freeland (GBR) and Joao Bento (POR).

Greta Roeser (GBR) was crowned women's junior kayak short race European Champion. Klaudia Kmetyo from Hungary finished second and Sienna Payne from Great Britain third.

There were also two classical canoe marathon races on the programme of the first competition day in Slavonski Brod. Dario Sanchez (ESP) produced the fastest time in men's junior canoe event, followed by Mihaly Pluzsik (HUN) and Krystian Kubica (POL). In women's canoe junior event Hungarian Imola Batka won gold medal, silver went to Spain thanks to Nerea Novo and bronze medal was won by Iringo Batka (HUN).

On Friday, the 2023 ECA Canoe Marathon European Championships brings six medal events.